Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-05
TALKING ABOUT FARMING.
Debates Of the WOodlaWn Clah-The
Proper Size Of . Farm.


The woodlawA Farmers club met at the RESI-
dence OF A. ". Harrison. on the 10th OF october.
President Pferson In the chair and W. Gillingham
secretary. MT. c. Lukens read the critical report,
calling attention 70 the commanding situation
OF the dwelling, giving It's owner the opportunity
OF the operations OF several Of the other
members OF the club located in the valley below.
His land is principally sandy loan. which. under
favorable circumstances, responds literally TO the
labor bestowed upon It. There are many springs
issuing from the hiilsides requiring many bitches
through the cultivated lands TO carry on the water
which the committee thought might BE- eoncen-
trated In fewer bitches to advantage. and some Of
which might be converted into covered drains
snss sT u Ss .s aa aoa or
foul weeds and briara He has herd or 81 cows
and heifers and o number OF horses and colts,
hm I'm ON the
button OF his farm implements about the place,
Inst ad OF being in winter quarters His corn
crop was fair one for the season. all OF his crops
were reduced more or less BY the extended
drought.
Mr.. Harrison, In reply TO criticisms, stated that
he found his plan OF sowing grass with oats had
encouraged the growth OF briars and creepers by
not living the land sufilcient cultivation, and ne
had also been putting in underdrains and closing
up some OF the open ditches since he had occu-
pied the place. He had difficulty In getting drain
Tie TO his farm without heavy cost foi Transports
ton He had tried several kinds of underdrains-
Plank drains answer well wher there is a con-
out The only really reliable drain is lie laii with
collars and OF uniform grade 70 prevent niling
with SILT The discussion OF the crtlcal report led
deep blowing, and diversity OF opinions existed,
according to The local conditions or soil The sub
lect OF concentrated W. Expansive Farming"
an essay, which be headed with the following
legend: "He bit OF more than he could chew"
The young farmer WAS cautioned against at,
bis labors and fertilizers over TOO much land
To farm successfully, the essayist said, requires
ana
waiting as any vocation In lie. The essay was
favorably commented upon, and was followed By
ject OF "Large and Small Farms" by Geo. Geddes.
good deal OF TALK was INDUCED In by way OF
comparison OF soil and conditions between this
the highlyimproved portions OF central New
York, and finally resulted In q comparison OF
Gibbs has about 200 acres. but THINKS ne could
manage 300 just as well. ChaS Lukens has just
started on about $40 acres but did not know how
200 about the size for him. J. w. Roberts said IL
depended on the size OF u mans bank account, his
capacity for business, and good many other
things Jno. Ballenger has 200 acres and wishes he
had less. Chas Gibbs Said 2O0 about nlied The ball.
A. w. Harrison CONFESSED he did not know. About
the subject some revolution OF the kaleidoscope
Knocked his preconceiyed opinions ali 10 flinders
and he had 10 begin ae ain. VIM. Hunter, Jr., said
100 Was 100 much for him. unless he had more
capital I. W. Blunt has yearly 200 and ne found
his digestive a. paratus" was pretty well taxed.
CORTLAND Lukens with zoo had made up his MUD
that 100 was enough for one man. Isaac Snowden
said II depended upon where the land lay. lie
thought II he had farm In Geo. Geddes' neigh
bUrhU0d, where plaster and clover Was all tuat
was needed to make the land ricn, he could man-
age O dig one. E. l. Mason said he stood py what
he SAID In his essay this Same subject, read a
year or two ago, that IL dep nded on q uian's
capacity, his captai, and the location OF his land.
Dtworth Buckuian voted Tor 200 acres. Presl-
dent Plerson read a letter accom- ,,anyfng circu-
France. in reiation 10 The Silk industry OF the
United States, wIcn tue secretary was directed TO
acknowledge, and IL was iaid over for furtuer con-
sideralion at next meeting, which VIII be at J.
Norman Gibbs, near Mount Vernon, on the 18Th Ut
November. The critical committee the meet
ing Is composed OF Isaac Snowuen, John Bailenser,
and DilwOrth Buchanan.